Poynter Street residents express disgust over bin policy

Next week Preston City Council are introducing a scheme to confiscate bins that are left out on the street after feedback from a public consultation.

But residents of Poynter Street, St. Matthew’s, are already having problems with their refuse bins, something that has attracted rats, flytipping and arson.

Zeenat Ali, a resident of the street and mother of six, said: “The bins have been stolen and been set alight in the past, and the bin men don’t collect bins if they’re overflowing, so what are we supposed to do?”

Ali recieved a letter from the council issuing a fine for the rubbish that lies next to her house, despite the fact that neither the rubbish nor the land belongs to her. She has requested a larger bin and her husband has even volunteered to brick off the area to prevent further vandalism.

Residents say that the latest deluge of rubbish has been accumulating for the past six weeks after the council have refused to replace bins after being vandalised.

Kenny Ham, also a street resident, said: “I’ve seen people flytipping and it’s ridiculous. It means that the kids can’t play out in the street. I don’t allow them to play anywhere near it because of the rats and disease.

“It’s already an eyesore and with the Summer coming it’s going to start smelling”.

The council’s new scheme to confiscate bins is to be piloted in the Wellington Street and St. Marks Road of Preston, and following the pilot, consideration will be given to rolling out the scheme throughout Preston.

Following complaints from residents, the council consulted on introducing a “three strikes and out” a policy whereby after three warnings bins left out will be confiscated by the Council, with people having to order a new bin and being charged accordingly.

Results of the public consultation are available to be viewed online here.